#WATCH PM in Bathinda, Punjab on R Gandhi's remark 'I told him(Sam Pitroda) he should be ashamed (for comment on 1984 riots)': 'Naamdaar', you pretended to scold your mentor for what? Because he publicly said what had always been in Congress' heart? It's you who should be ashamed pic.twitter.com/IH0kWqCmYj

Pitroda's “hua toh hua” statement over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots have triggered criticism from his colleagues as well as BJP leaders. PM Modi targeted Pitroda, earlier today, and said, "They ask for votes in the name of their ancestors, but when questioned on their (ancestors) misdeeds, they say hua to hua."

Meanwhile, the grand old party leaders are also distancing themselves from Pitroda’s statement. “It is not the party’s stand, the party condemns it,” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi in New Delhi. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also termed his statement as "shocking."

On Friday, Pitroda apologised for his “hua toh hua” statement and said his remarks were misrepresented. “My Hindi is not that good, I think in English and translate in Hindi... I could not translate bura in my mind... what I really meant to say is jo hua bura hua tha (what happened was bad),” he said.